A magnetic read/write head and slider assembly and method for forming said magnetic read/write head and slider assembly, wherein said assembly has improved heat spreading and dissipation properties and exhibits significantly reduced thermal protrusion during operation. The method of formation is simple and efficient, involving only the extension of one of the conductive mounting pads so that it is in thermal contact with a portion of the slider assembly surface that is over the read/write element.
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1. A magnetic read/write head and slider assembly having improved heat spreading and heat dissipation characteristics and reduced thermal protrusion comprising:
a magnetic read/write head and slider assembly on whose trailing end surface are formed a plurality of electrically isolated conducting pads, said pads providing electrical connections between said read/write head and external circuitry by means of internal current leads connected between said pads and said read/write head; and
at least one of said conducting pads having a larger surface area, the surface area of said larger pads covering at least that portion of the trailing end surface that is above said read/write head and said pads being in thermal contact with said trailing end surface.
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This is a division of patent application Ser. No. 09/970,788, filing date Oct. 5, 2001, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,928,721. Thermal Protrusion Reduction In Magnet Heads By Utilizing a Heat-Spreading Pad, assigned to the same assignee as the present invention, which is herein incorporated by reference in its entirety.
1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates generally to the fabrication of merged magnetic read/write heads and slider assemblies and, more particularly, to the fabrication of such a head and slider assembly with improved heat spreading and dissipation characteristics to eliminate problems associated with thermal expansion and protrusion of head elements during operation.
2. Description of the Related Art
A merged magnetic read/write head and slider assembly consists essentially of a magnetoresistive read sensor element formed on the pole pieces of an inductively magnetized write element and mounted within, or fabricated as an integral part of, a slider assembly that physically and electrically connects the head to an actuator arm. The read/write head is subjected to complex thermal stresses during its normal operation due to the buildup of thermal energy from Joule heating in its read and write stages (sensing current in the read element and write current in the write coil). The heat dissipation properties of the read/write head are limited by the thermal conductivity of the protective overcoat material (typically sputtered alumina) that covers the head. Since alumina is a relatively poor conductor of heat, a temperature buildup occurs in both the head and the overcoat as the overcoat is unable to eliminate the heat produced in the head with sufficient rapidity.
Seagle (U.S. Pat. No. 5,936,811) provides a slider assembly similar to that in
Chang et al. (U.S. Pat. No. 6,158,107) provide a merged read/write head in which the pole tips of the write head are more advantageously defined by use of a self-alignment formation process and show the use of a substantial overcoat in the head formation.
Maries et al. (U.S. Pat. No. 3,770,403) discloses a magnetic head assembly in which the read/write circuit portions of the assembly are formed on a chip and bonded to head assembly by a glass-ceramic material whose coefficient of expansion matches the coefficient of expansion of the parts to be joined. Another feature of this structure is that the method of mounting the head assembly on the support arm allows the air flow past the assembly to act as a coolant for the circuit chip and also allows the thermal conductivity of the metal structure of the arm to act as a heat sink for the circuit chip.
Phipps et al. (U.S. Pat. No. 5,757,590) deals with the problem of electrostatic charge buildup on read/write heads, which is another problem associated with rapid relative movement between the head and the recording medium. Phipps provides a fusible link element connected across the existing terminal pads of the head to discharge the unwanted buildup.
Wang et al. (U.S. Pat. No. 6,130,863) show the use of a magnetic coil and slider assembly even in the field of magneto-optical storage systems.
Han et al. (U.S. Pat. No. 6,103,136) shows a magnetoresistive read head that typifies those found in the merged read/write heads referred to in the present invention.
None of the prior art cited deals with the significant problem of heat buildup in head elements such as write coils, magnetic pole pieces, overcoat regions and magnetoresistive sensing formations. This heat buildup is not only damaging to the performance of the elements, but differential thermal expansion causes protrusion of elements relative to each other and relative to the air bearing surface, which protrusion can cause damage to the rapidly moving storage medium. It is, therefore, the purpose of the present invention to provide a simple and efficient method whereby the heat dissipation properties of a read/write element can be significantly improved.
A first object of this invention is to provide a method for forming a magnetic read/write head and slider assembly having improved heat spreading and dissipation characteristics when compared to magnetic read/write heads and slider assemblies of the prior art.
A second object of the present invention is to provide a method for forming such a magnetic read/write head and slider assembly having improved heat spreading and dissipation characteristics, wherein said method of formation is simple and efficient and requires only a slight variation in the present method of forming such a head and slider.
A third object of this invention is to provide a magnetic read/write head and slider assembly having significantly improved heat spreading and dissipation characteristics.
A fourth object of this invention is to provide a read/write head and slider assembly wherein there will be no protrusion of head elements and overcoat relative to the air bearing surface of the head during normal operating conditions.
In accord with the objects of this invention there is provided a magnetic read/write head and slider assembly and a method for forming such a magnetic read/write head and slider assembly, wherein one of the electrically conductive pads that connects the internal current carrying leads of the head to the external circuitry is enlarged and extended over a substantial portion of the bottom of the slider (the trailing end surface) so that it covers and thermally contacts the portion of the overcoat that is above the head structure. Since said pad is typically fabricated of gold or other material that is both electrically and thermally highly conductive, much more thermally conductive than the overcoat material, the enlargement and extension of the pad provides significant additional heat spreading (reduction of sharp temperature gradients) and heat dissipation for the head and slider assembly. Since the external electrical leads connected to the pads offer additional heat dissipation, the effect is magnified and rendered even more advantageous.
The objects, features and advantages of the present invention are understood within the context of the Description of the Preferred Embodiment, as set forth below. The Description of the Preferred Embodiments is understood within the context of the accompanying figures, wherein:
The preferred embodiment of the present invention provides an efficient and effective method for materially improving the heat dissipation and heat spreading characteristics and eliminating associated thermal protrusion problems of a merged magnetic read/write head and slider assembly by the enlargement of at least one of its current lead connecting pads. The efficacy of this method has been substantiated by simulations that compare heads fabricated according to the method of the invention with heads fabricated according to methods of the prior art.
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As is understood by a person skilled in the art, the preferred embodiment of the present invention is illustrative of the present invention rather than limiting of the present invention. Revisions and modifications may be made to methods, materials, structures and dimensions employed in the present method of fabricating a magnetic read/write head and slider assembly with improved heat dissipation and thermal protrusion properties, while still providing a read/write head and slider assembly with improved heat dissipation and thermal protrusion properties, in accord with the spirit and scope of the present invention as defined by the appended claims.
Garfunkel, Glen, Han, Cherng-Chyi, Chhabra, Devendra S., Lee, Rod, Dovek, Mor
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